Composite container



Sept. 30, 1941. 1 v. I. MCCARTHY r 2,257,569

COMPOS ITE CONTAINER Filed March 22, 1959 fl/m/mw.

WI; f. ff Ca/r'f/zy v Patented Sept. 30, 1941 COMPOSITE CONTAINER Vern I. McCarthy, Maywood, Ill., casino! to Vulcan Stamping a Mtg. 00., Bellwood, 11]., a I corporation of Illinois Application March 22, 1939, Serial No. 263,316

' Claims. (01. 220-17) The invention relates to improvements in metal containers and particularly to containers of the composite type comprising two or more separate receptacles assembled one within another in a unitary structure and adaptedrespectively for holding the unmixed liquid and solid ingredients of metallic paint or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a composite container structure of the above general character which is inexpensive to manuiacture, which is convenient to pack, and which is economical of space, particularly with respect to the separate storage and shipment of the inner receptacles intended to hold the solid ingredients in the paint.

Another object is to provide an improved composite container structure embodying novel means for securing the solid-ingredient receptacle within the liquid ingredient receptacle in a manner such as to effectually prevent the inner receptacle from becoming separated due to rough handling in shipment or otherwise, whereby accidental opening oi. the inner receptacle or damage to the lining oi the outer receptacle is avoided.

herein be described as applied to a preferred type of container, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The improved composite container comprises generally an outer receptacle or drum 1 large enough to hold all of the ingredients required 'for a predetermined quantity of unmixed paint and an inner receptacle 8 in the form of a separate independently closable can of suiilcient capacity to hold the solid ingredients of the paint. Interlocking elements 9 and III on the respective receptacles cooperate to secure the receptacles together in a unitary structure with the inner receptacle positioned adjacent the top of the outer receptacle for convenient access.

While the inner and outer receptacles l and 8 may be of any suitable form or construction, it is preferred to employ a standard sheet metal drum such as that shown in Fig. 1 as the outer receptacle and an ordinary friction top can as 7 Still another object is to provide a composite T container structure embodying novel means for supporting the inner receptacle in a manner such that it is conveniently accessible and capable of being'removed from the filled outer receptacle by a simple lifting operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a composite. container structure embodying the features oi the invention showing the-various parts of the container in assembled relation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inner receptacle.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a part oi the interlocking means for assembling the inner and outer receptacles as a unit and one form of positioning means. for positioning the inner receptacle for convenient access. j

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified form of positioning means shown in Fig. 2 as the inner receptacle. Drums and cans of this character are standard articles of commerce now manufactured in large quantities and therefore relatively inexpensive.

The drum 1 as herein shown comprises a cylindrical body H closed at its lower end by a permanently attached bottom I2 and at its upper end by a removable cover II. The upper edge of the body II is rolled outwardly to form an annular bead It for seating the coverii. The cover I3as shown in Fig. 1 has a depressed central portion I5 adapted to fit tightly into the top of the drum and its marginal edge is rolled for positioning the inner container for con- I While the invention has been shown and will outwardly and downwardly to form an annular channel I6 of semicylindrical cross section adapted to fit over the bead ll of the drum. The outer wall of the channel It is slotted to form lugs H which may be crlmped or bent under the bead ll to secure the cover to the drum. A gasket i8 of rubber or other suitable material is usually inserted in the channel IE. to effect a tight seal.

The inner receptacle 8 as shown in Fig. 2 is an ordinary can of cylindrical form-adapted to be closed by a friction top I 9 of the usual and well known construction. It should be .understood, of. course, that cans of other shapes may be employed and likewise'other-types of closures as, for example, screw tops may be used in connection with these cans.

The drum and can above described are of A standard construction and in order toenable them to cooperate to attain the objects and advantages of the invention the interlocking elements 9 and iii are attached respectively thereto. The element S in its preferred form comprises an elongated strip of sheet metal having opposite marginal edges bent back upon themselves to form spaced parallel inwardly facing grooves2l which constitute a guideway for the element ill. The element 8 is secured to the side wall of thedrum I as by soldering, spot welding, or other suitable manner, so that its upper end lies closely adjacent the top of the the channel portion 22 of the flanges 23 are such as to permit the flanges to enter the grooves 21 of the element S with the channel portion projecting outwardly and supporting the can 8 in spaced relation to the body of the drum I.

Preferably, the lower corners of the flanges 23 are beveled as at 14 to facilitate the insertion of the flanges in the channels 2|. The flanges may be readily entered in the upper ends of the grooves 2| and, by simply sliding the can 8 endwise relative to the drum, the element In is interlocked for its entire length with the element 9 on the drum. The elements thus cooperate to hold the drum and can securely together as an integral, unitary structure. The

gardlessoftbesizeofthecanl, itwillbepoaitioned closely adjacent the top of the drum for convenient access.

Another form of positioning means is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 which maybe used advantageously in some cases. In this instance, a flat elongated strip I! of substantially the same width as theguideway provided by the grooves II constitutes the stop member. The upper end of'the strip 32 is bent laterally to form 9. lug 33 which, when the strip is inserted in the guideway, projects radially into the interior of the drum and provides a rest for the bottom of the can 8. Thus the stop member serves to position the can for convenient access when the drum is opened. The strip 12 will ordinarily be made of a length such as'to properly position the smallest can to be used in the container assembly. and when used with larger cans may be cut down to the size required. In use, the stop member is insertedinthe guideway and pushed to the bottom thereof as shown in Fig. 5 and the interlocking element of the can I0 is then engaged in the guideway in the usual manner.

The improved container structure readily lends itself to improved methods of packing paint -ingredients. In particular, it permitsthe separate packing in shipment of the solid ingredieither above or below the top of the can, such In' cans can be packed in a. minimum space. fact, the cans I equipped with interlocking eh.-

, ments may be packed in cartons of the same size as ordinary cans not so equipped. This is advantageous from the standpoint of the packer since standard shipping cartons may be used.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a composite container structure of novel and advantageous construccan 8 is rigidly held thoughout its entire length,

thuseffectually preventing it from swinging and eliminating any possibility of it breaking loose incident to the handling of the assembled container as in shipment.

To facilitate the opening of the container and the removal of the paint ingredients therefrom, it is desirable to retain the can l in a position adjacent the upper end of the drum preferably above the level of the liquid therein so that it may be lifted out of the drum without the user's hands coming in contact with such liquid. Suitable positioning means is therefore provided for limiting the relative movement of the flanged- II in the guideway formed by the element grooves II.

The preferred form of the positioning means as shown in Fig. 4 comprises a generally U- shaped spring clip 25 having oppositely projecting end portions 26 adapted to engage in apertures 21 arranged in pairs in opposite sides of the element 9. As herein shown. a plurality of pairs of apertures 2|.are provided, these being spaced longitudinally of the element 0 so that the stop member '25 may be variously positioned to accommodate cans of different size. Due to the spring construction of the stop member, the ends 2 may be withdrawn from the apertures by compressing its U-shaped central portion so that the member may be readily movedjrorn to the provision of the novel positioning means,

the inner receptacle" or can I. is positioned in the upper portion of the drum so that it is conveniently accessible and may be removed therefrom by a simple lifting operation. Since the positioning means is adjustable, it may be ,used with cans of any size.

I claim as my invention:

1. A compodte container structure .comprising,

' in combination. a sheet metal drum constituting an outer receptacle. a substantially smaller independently closable can constituting an inner receptacle for insertion in said drum, means for removably supporting the inner receptacle on the body of said drum including an elongated element extending substantially from the bottom to thetopofthedrumandrigidlysecuredtothe side wall thereof, and a second elongated "element secured to the outer wall of the inner receptacle, said second element being shaped to "interlock with the first element and thus hold the two receptacles together as a unitary structure. 7

2. A composite container structure comprising,

in combination, a sheet metal drum constituting an outer receptacle, a substantially smaller independently closable can constituting-an inner receptacle for insertion in said drum, means for removably supporting the inner receptacle on the body oi said drum including an elongated element secured to the inner wall of the drum and d oppositely facing spaced grooves extending lengthwisemt the drum, a cooperating oi'thedrum.

3. A composite container structure comprising, in combination; a sheet metal drum constituting an outer receptacle, a substantially smaller independently closable can constituting an inner receptacle ior'insertiondn said drum, means for removably supporting the inner receptacle on the 01' said drum including an elongated element secured to the inner wall of the drum and defining oppositely facing spacedgrooves extending lengthwise of the drum; a cooperating element secured to theouter wall 01 said can having oppositely projecting flanges adapted to be slidably, engaged in said grooves by endwise movement of the can relative to the drum, adjustable stop means carried on one of a said elements and engageable with the other element for positioning said can for convenient 8C? cess adjacent the open end of the drum.

4. A composite container structure comprising,

in combination, a sheet metal'drum constituting an outer receptacle, asubstantially smaller independently closable can constituting an inner receptacle for insertion in said drum, means for 5 removably supporting the inner receptacle on the body of said drum including an elongated element secured to the inner wall of the drum and defining oppositely facing spaced grooves extending lengthwise of the drum, a cooperating ele-' 10 ment secured to the outer wall of said can having oppositely projecting flanges adapted to be slidably engaged in said grooves by endwise movement of the can relative to the drum, a stop member having vertical edge portions adapted 15 to slidably engage in-said grooves, and a laterally projecting lug onlsaid member adapted to engage the bottom of said can to support the can for convenient'access adjacent the top, of the drum when said stop member is inserted in the grooved element prior to the engagement of the flanged element of the cantherewith.

5. As an article oi manufacture, a sheet metal drum adapted for assembly with a smaller independently closable receptacle having an elongat:

ed flanged element secured to its outer wall, said jacent said bead to a point adjacent said bottom and rigidly secured to the inner wall or said body portion, and means on said member defining spaced grooves for slidably receiving the flanges of the element secured to the smaller receptacle.

"' VERNLMcCARTHY 

